Share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric in South Africa
South Africa: Share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric was 26.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric in South Africa, 2013–2025
Source: International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric in South Africa is 26.3%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is down 57.5% on the previous year and down 47.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric in South Africa peaked at 100.0% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 26.3%, in 2016.
South Africa ranks 58th of 58 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 100.0% | — |
| 2014 | 93.3% | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 50.0% | -46.4% |
| 2016 | 26.3% | -47.4% |
| 2017 | 34.3% | +30.5% |
| 2018 | 44.6% | +29.8% |
| 2019 | 69.0% | +54.6% |
| 2020 | 38.0% | -44.9% |
| 2021 | 81.2% | +113.5% |
| 2022 | 80.6% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 75.0% | -7.0% |
| 2024 | 61.9% | -17.5% |
| 2025 | 26.3% | -57.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 26.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 83.6%, 31% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 59.7% | 26.3% | 100.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 60.5% | 26.3% | 81.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric in South Africa?
- Share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric in South Africa was 26.3% in 2025, according to International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2013.
- What is the lowest share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.3% in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric?
- South Africa ranks 58th out of 58 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of new electric cars that are fully battery-electric. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
"Electric cars" often refer to both fully battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids. Shown is the share of new electric cars sold that are fully battery-electric.